This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9 billion project to build the Barclays Center arena and 16 high-rise buildings at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake in 15 towers. New York State still calls it Atlantic Yards. Contact: AtlanticYardsReport[at]hotmail.com

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Get ready for a lot more traffic on Sixth Avenue between Atlantic and Flatbush avenue.

A notice and detour map issued by the Empire State Development Corporation and Forest City Ratner--issued just after bonds were sold for the Atlantic Yards arena--indicates that directional changes on two streets will begin on Monday, December 21.

Fifth Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, will become northbound only, leaving drivers formerly going south diverted to Sixth Avenue. Meanwhile, Pacific Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, will become two-way. (Click on map to enlarge.)

The changes will accommodate utility upgrades underneath the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Pacific Street/Flatbush Avenue.

According to the notice, advisory signs will be posted in advance of the closure and detour signs will be posted during the work. Traffic agents will be assigned to facilitate the flow of traffic and pedestrians. Local and emergency vehicle access will be maintained on the affected streets at all times. City services will be maintained in the area at all times.

Commented NLG's Eric McClure: NoLandGrab: Sealing off a common route of egress from Bruce Ratner's mall complex four days before Christmas ought to serve as a decent test run for a typical arena traffic snarl.

Full closure?

The notice states that these changes may be followed by a full closure of Fifth Avenue (between Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues), Pacific Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), and Pacific Street (between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues) in early 2010.

May be followed? The plan is to close all them for the arena block and a parking lot, so may refer to the timing rather than the intent.